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Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Landmarking advances for Pilsen's St. Adalbert Catholic Church, Polish advocates left frustrated
A late compromise helped landmark status for Pilsen's St. Adalbert Catholic Church finally move ahead Tuesday, a decisive step in a fierce preservation battle. The City Council's Zoning Committee unanimously approved a plan to give the shuttered church a landmark designation, teeing up a final vote Wednesday. But the Polish parishioners who long sought the preservation status left City Hall infuriated by what they described as a last-second 'backroom deal' that sets up the sale of the Archdiocese of Chicago land to a nondenominational church. 'It's what our ancestors sacrificed for. We're talking about poor farmers,' said Julie Sawicki, president of the Society of St. Adalbert group fighting for the church to reopen as a Catholic sacred space. 'You think that they did all that so that one day this could be just treated like a real estate broker, like bargaining chips? No, this was intended for perpetuity.' Previous landmarking proposals included each building on the 2-acre plot, highlighted by the Renaissance Revival church. On Tuesday, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, presented a substitute plan that only granted the church building the landmark status, but left out the former rectory, convent and school. That narrowed preservation plan came with the support of Preservation Chicago, a leading local preservation advocate. It also won approval from the Archdiocese, which closed St. Adalbert's in 2019 and has since fought the landmarking push. The Archdiocese has argued it must sell the St. Adalbert complex to avoid costly upkeep costs and fund the active St. Paul Parish nearby, a transaction potentially harmed by landmarking. Aldermen also had to deal with a deadline: If they did not vote on the Commission on Chicago Landmarks' preservation recommendation this month, the entire complex would have been automatically landmarked. Archdiocesan leaders feared that sweeping designation would prevent a planned sale of the property to People Church, a nondenominational Christian ministry that currently holds services at Roberto Clemente Community Academy. 'We have worked transparently with all stakeholders throughout this process and are grateful to those in city leadership who support limited landmarking,' the Archdiocese wrote in a statement before the vote. The towering church building — currently covered in scaffolding the Archdiocese says is needed to prevent ongoing decay — is the 'crown jewel' of the property, Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller said after the vote. The new status will preserve the exterior of the building, but allow for changes to be made for its new owners inside and on other parts of the property, he said. 'We're very pleased that we came to a compromise here. The most important of the buildings has been landmarked,' Miller said. Sigcho-Lopez defended the more-tailored designation as a 'win for the community' that came after public meetings and open conversations. He previously pushed for the broader landmark designation last year, but lost when his Zoning Committee colleagues decided to delay consideration in a 10-to-4 September vote. 'We did justice to what we heard from the community, a landmark designation that protects the use of the building,' Sigcho-Lopez said. 'That is a fair compromise.' Sigcho-Lopez said he has not yet heard how People Church plans to develop the land, and People Church did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. The alderman acknowledged the frustration of the dogged former parishioners who want St. Adalbert's to reopen as a Catholic church. 'I don't have jurisdiction over that,' he said. But many of the Polish former St. Adalbert's parishioners pinned blame on the Pilsen alderman for failing to preserve the entire church complex. After the vote, Sawicki criticized Sigcho-Lopez for not effectively working with other aldermen and said advocates backing the full-property preservation were not made aware of the compromise. 'This was not done with community input,' she said. The Society of St. Adalbert group has long fought for St. Adalbert's to reopen as a Catholic sacred space funded by the use of the church complex's many buildings, including as a potential retreat center. In their bid to save the church, activists have attended raucous and insult-ridden City Hall hearings, stormed into other parishes in protest and even, in the case of one 73-year-old woman, been arrested for trespassing while opposing the removal of stained glass windows and art. The fight continued Tuesday, when dozens again donned the red and white of the Polish flag and filled the seats inside City Council chambers. Sawicki criticized the Archdiocese for deciding to sell instead of using St. Adalbert's to grow its Catholic ranks. The church complex could still be used to respond to a coming wave of Catholic tourism tied to the May election of Pope Leo XVI, of Dolton, she said. 'It's ridiculous, it's short-sighted, it's misguided,' Sawicki said. 'They are dumping millions of dollars into shutting churches, merging them. Why don't you use that brain power and money instead to figure out ways of bringing people back.' The group supports landmarking moving forward tomorrow because the church building will otherwise not be protected, but it now plans to push separately for the landmarking of the other buildings, Sawicki said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$4 million renovation underway at Tampa Union Station
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — One of Tampa's most iconic landmarks is getting a major upgrade. Tampa Union Station, the city's historic rail hub located at 601 N. Nebraska Avenue, is undergoing a $4 million renovation aimed at restoring its charm and creating new spaces for the community. Funded by the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the project will include new windows, fresh paint, and updates to both the interior and exterior. Construction is expected to wrap by December 2025. But the updates go beyond surface-level improvements. City leaders envision turning underused parts of the station into vibrant gathering spaces. Plans being discussed include a coffee shop, co-working areas, and room for local events—all while continuing to serve the growing number of Amtrak riders. And that ridership is booming. More than 156,000 passengers traveled through Tampa Union Station in fiscal year 2024—a 21% increase from the previous year, marking the highest numbers in over a decade. The growth reinforces the station's status as one of the busiest Amtrak stops in Florida. Built in 1912 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, Tampa Union Station was originally a consolidation point for three major railroads. It has endured the Great Depression, two world wars, and the rise and fall of passenger rail travel in America. After closing to the public in 1984 due to years of neglect, the station was saved by a grassroots group, Tampa Union Station Preservation & Redevelopment (TUSP&R), which raised more than $4 million to restore it. It reopened in 1998 and was gifted to the City of Tampa. Now situated in the rapidly developing Five Points district—which includes South Ybor, GasWorx, the Channel District, Water Street and ENCORE!—the station is poised to become a local centerpiece once again. Tampa Union Station has become a sought-after venue for weddings, galas, art exhibits and community events. It's also a stop on the planned Zack Street arts promenade, which aims to link creative spaces across downtown. Recognized as a National Historic Railroad Landmark in 2012, the station remains a proud symbol of Tampa's heritage. For those looking to stay connected, the nonprofit Friends of Tampa Union Station provides updates on restoration efforts and hosts events throughout the year. As the renovation continues, one thing is clear: Tampa Union Station is not just a place to catch a train—it's a space where the city's past, present and future converge. Want to experience Tampa Union Station for yourself?Visit or follow them on social media for event listings, historical tours, and construction updates. More local stories at BLOOMFollow me on Instagram: @browoodd for more Tampa history, hidden gems, and living local tips. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
One down, one to go
The Courthouse Annex building in downtown Danville is no more. Built in 1895-96 as a post office and courthouse, it held various businesses over the years, including F. W. Woolworth's. After ownership of the building moved to Vermilion County in the 1980s, it was remodeled from its original Renaissance Revival style to a more modern look, housing the courthouse annex. Now that the annex building is down, work crews must sort through the wreckage, separating aluminum from steel for recycling. Work to demolish Bresee Tower should begin in the coming weeks, according to a timeline issued by the Public Works Department.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
World's oldest museum cafe is one of the most beautiful in the UK
It was one of the first ever museums to have a cafe COFFEE BREAK World's oldest museum cafe is one of the most beautiful in the UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE WORLD'S oldest museum cafe can be found in the UK - and it's barely changed in 150 years. Found inside the Victoria and Albert Museum, the ornate room dates back to 1868. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The cafe opened to the public in 1868 Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London 5 There are three themed sections to the cafe Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London Originally designed by James Gamble, William Morris and Edward Poynter, the V&A's cafe features opulent decorations showcasing the style of the Victorian era. The cafe has been serving customers for over 150 years and was the first of its kind. Museums originally never used to have cafes or anywhere for visitors to rest and enjoy refreshments, until Henry Cole came up with the idea of introducing an in-house refreshment room. Cole had learnt about the needs of visitors when he managed The Great Exhibition in 1851. One of the things that was high priority for visitors, was being fed and watered. Many other museums took until the 20th century to introduce a refreshment room. Large lights hang from the ceiling, stained glass windows litter the walls, grand arches stretch across the structure and colourful ceramic tiles line the floors. The cafe essentially splits into three sections, each designed by a different artist. The Gamble Room was designed by James Gamble, the Poynter Room by Edward J. Poynter, and The Morris Room by William Morris. Over the past 15 decades, not much inside the cafe has changed. World's biggest $1B mega-museum built for body of King Tut to open Artwork is spread across the walls, and there are a number of fascinating artefacts to gaze at. The Gamble Room, which was originally known as the Centre Refreshment Room, was the largest and intended to be the first room visitors saw. The room features a Renaissance Revival style, with colourful tiles and enamelled ceiling plates and was even compared to the glitz of Paris at the time. The Poynter Room, was initially the Grill Room, and features blue-toned tiles with Dutch influences. Eastern-inspired motifs including peacocks and waves, depictions of the months, seasons and zodiacs can also be seen across the room. The tiles were painted by female art students, which was an unusual commission for women at the time. 5 William Morris even designed a section of the cafe Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London 5 The cafe is open everyday, 10am to 5pm Credit: Alamy The third room, the Morris Room, was originally the Green Dining Room and designed by Morris before he was famous. The room features a Gothic Revival and Elizabethan style with olive branch decorations, hares and hounds, and stained glass windows. The three rooms all opened to the public in 1868 and were designed to showcase a range of different contemporary styles. In addition, originally there were different menus for different social classes. The Victoria and Albert Museum's (V&A) cafe, located in London, is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and serves a variety of different coffees, pastries, sandwiches, salads, cakes, freshly baked scones and speciality teas. London is also home to a weird museum located underneath an office, and it is free to enter. Plus, a major new museum is due to open in the city in 2027.
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
World's oldest museum cafe is one of the most beautiful in the UK
THE WORLD'S oldest museum cafe can be found in the UK - and it's barely changed in 150 years. Found inside the Victoria and Albert Museum, the ornate room dates back to 1868. Advertisement 5 The cafe opened to the public in 1868 Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London 5 There are three themed sections to the cafe Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London Originally designed by James Gamble, William Morris and Edward Poynter, the V&A's cafe features opulent decorations showcasing the style of the Victorian era. The cafe has been serving customers for over 150 years and was the first of its kind. Museums originally never used to have cafes or anywhere for visitors to rest and enjoy refreshments, until Henry Cole came up with the idea of introducing an in-house refreshment room. Cole had learnt about the needs of visitors when he managed The Great Exhibition in 1851. Advertisement Read more on museums One of the things that was high priority for visitors, was being fed and watered. Many other museums took until the 20th century to introduce a refreshment room. Large lights hang from the ceiling, stained glass windows litter the walls, grand arches stretch across the structure and colourful ceramic tiles line the floors. The cafe essentially splits into three sections, each designed by a different artist. Advertisement Most read in City breaks The Gamble Room was designed by James Gamble, the Poynter Room by Edward J. Poynter, and The Morris Room by Over the past 15 decades, not much inside the cafe has changed. World's biggest $1B mega-museum built for body of King Tut to open Artwork is spread across the walls, and there are a number of The Gamble Room, which was originally known as the Centre Refreshment Room, was the largest and intended to be the first room visitors saw. Advertisement The room features a Renaissance Revival style, with colourful tiles and enamelled ceiling plates and was even compared to the glitz of Paris at the time. The Poynter Room, was initially the Grill Room, and features blue-toned tiles with Dutch influences. Eastern-inspired motifs including peacocks and waves, depictions of the months, seasons and zodiacs can also be seen across the room. The tiles were painted by female art students, which was an unusual commission for women at the time. Advertisement 5 William Morris even designed a section of the cafe Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London 5 The cafe is open everyday, 10am to 5pm Credit: Alamy The third room, the Morris Room, was originally the Green Dining Room and designed by Morris before he was famous. The room features a Gothic Revival and Elizabethan style with olive branch decorations, hares and hounds, and stained glass windows. Advertisement The three rooms all opened to the public in 1868 and were designed to showcase a range of different contemporary styles. In addition, originally there were different menus for different social classes. The Victoria and Albert Museum's (V&A) cafe, located in London, is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and serves a variety of different coffees, pastries, sandwiches, salads, cakes, freshly baked scones and speciality teas. London is also home to a weird museum located underneath an office, and it is free to enter. Advertisement Plus, a 5 The cafe also features a lot of artwork and different styles Credit: ©Victoria & Albert Museum, London
